'Investigation phone call not answered' - infection spreading among the young, incidents of refusing to be tracked

Recently Yomiuri Shimbun On-line reported the following:

「調査の電話に出てくれない」感染拡大の若年層、追跡拒否のケースも

 読売新聞 2020/04/05 07:19

　東京都で４日、１日当たりの新型コロナウイルス感染者数が初めて１００人を超えた。深刻なのが、感染経路を特定できていない人の急増だ。若者を中心に保健所の調査に応じない人も少なくないという。都はこの週末も外出自粛を強く求めているが、「感染爆発」への危機感が強まっている。

　「以前より（感染経路を）追跡できない人が増えてきた」。東京都の幹部は４日夜、都庁（新宿区）で開いた記者会見で厳しい実態を明らかにした。

　都によると、この日までの累計感染者８９１人のうち、感染元をたどれていない人は４３６人とほぼ半数を占めているという。４日に判明した感染者１１８人のうち感染経路不明の人は７割近くに上る。担当者は「患者から細かい状況を聞き取るのが難しい。なかなか話してもらえないこともある」と説明する。

　特に感染経路の特定が難しいのが、症状が出にくいとされる若年層だ。しかし、その若年層で感染が拡大しており、今月に入ってから、３０歳代以下の感染者は全体の約４割を占め、２週間前の約２割から倍増した。夜の繁華街などで感染が広がるケースが目立ち、追跡調査を拒否するケースもあるという。保健所からは「若者は聞き取り調査のための電話に出てくれない」といった声も上がっている。

　都は、追跡調査を強化しながら、都民に外出自粛などを強く呼びかけて今後の感染拡大を抑制し、一方では病床不足への対策を急ぐ。医療現場では「軽症者を早期に別の場所に移さなければ、重症者の治療に支障を来す事態になりかねない」との危機感が強まっており、都医師会関係者は「ホテルへの軽症者の移送が始まれば、医療機関の負担は大きく軽減されるだろう」と早期の運用に期待している。

Translation

The number of new coronavirus infections per day exceeded 100 in Tokyo for the first time on April 4. What was serious was the rapid increase in the number of people whose transmission route could not be determined. It was said that there were a lot of people who did not respond to investigations done on public health centers set up for the young. As the city would push for self-restraint this weekend, there was a growing sense of crisis towards an "explosion".

"More than before the number of people who could not be traced (on the route of infection) has increased." Tokyo executives revealed a severe situation at a press conference held in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Shinjuku-ku) on the night of April 4.

According to Tokyo, out of the 891 infected people to date, the infection source of 436 could not be traced, accounting for almost half. Nearly 70% of the 118 infected people identified on the 4th had unknown routes of transmission. The person in charge explained that "It is difficult to hear the details from the patients. Sometimes it is difficult to talk to them."

It was especially difficult for young people, who were less likely to develop symptoms, to determine the route of transmission. However, infection had been expanding among the younger generation. Since this month about 40% of those infected were in their 30s and younger, and that doubled the about 20% two weeks ago. It was said that cases of infection spread in downtown areas at night were prominent, and there were cases where follow-up investigations were refused. From the public health centers, the voices saying that "Young people don't answer the phone for interviews" were rising.

The Metropolitan Government while strengthening follow-up surveys, had urged the Tokyo residents to refrain from going out, etc. to stop the spread of future infections, and on the other hand urgently taking measures to address the shortage of beds. Regarding medical sites, there was a growing sense of danger that if “the mildly ill were not relocated to another places early, it could hinder the treatment of the severely ill”. According to a Metropolitan Medical Association official, "if the transfer of mildly sick people to hotels begins, the burden on medical institutions will be greatly reduced”, and was waiting for an early action.

               It is interesting to note that the young people in Japan are less co-operative in stopping the pandemic. What are the reasons for that? Social scientists in Japan might be interested in doing a study on this phenomenon when the matter is over.